Rotary internal-combustion engine



O. A. WILLIAMS AND G. A. SHARPE.

ROTARY INTERNAL comsusnow ENGIINE. APPLICATION FILED AUG-30, 1919.

1,369,070. A Patented Feb. 22,1921.

.3 SHEETSSHEET l- 0. A. WILLIAMS AND G. A. SHARP E. ROTARY INTERNAL comsusnou ENGINE.

I APPLICATION FILED AUG.30, 1919. 1,369,070. w Patented Feb. 22,1921.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

67 auucufot 0. A. WILLIAMS AND G. A. SHARPE.

ROTARY INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED Aucmo. 1919.

1,369,070. Patented Feb. 22,1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

JE I 46 O O 56 I O I Q 0 64 64 O O 42 h g3 O o o o o o NIH] I I I I I I. o o o o o o 02 l amuentoz I I m (IRMA nu,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OGDEN A. WILLIAMS A-NI.) GEORGE A. SHARPE, OF ASHLAN D, ALABAMA; SAID SHARPE SYIIVANIA.

' ASSIGNOR OF HIS ENTIRE RIGHT TO EVERTON TAYLOR, OF PHOENIXVILLE, PENN- RO'IARY INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 22, 1921 Application filed August 30, 1919. Serial-Ho. 320,881.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, OGDEN A. WILLIAMS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ashland, in the county of Clay and State of Alabama, and GEORGE A. SHARPE, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Ashland in the county of Clay, State of Alabama, S. A., have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rotary Internal-Combustion En ines; and we do hereby declare the following, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the. art to which it appertains to make and use the same. 7

This invention relates to internal combustion engines and contemplates more particularly an engine of the rotary type possessing novel means for producing two explosions for every revolution of the power shaft.

Another object of the present invention is the production of a rotary engine in which the compressed charge is delivered to a firing chamber adjacent to the rotor and subsequently exploded and expanded against the said rotor through the operation of a movable member in the nature of a swinging gate designed to cooperate with the respective side walls of the rotor heads as will ap ear hereinafter.

nother object of the invention is to produce an engine of the aforesaid type in which greater speed and maximum power are obtained through the multiple explosions and expansions of the gases against a movable member designed to bear against the walls of the heads of the rotor in the man ner of a lever, thereby insuring a maximum rotary pressure together with a smooth and quiet operation of the engine.

With these and other objects in view, the

invention further consists in the production of a compact and easily assembled engine,

. capable of being accommodated in small and inarily inaccessible places.

In the accompanying drawmgs illustrating an embodiment of our invention as now known to us, and in which corresponding reference characters designate similar parts:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view partly in elevation through our improved engine.

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of'Fig. 1, illustrating more particularl the construction of the rotor firing cham er and associated movable gate or lever, and

Fig. 3 is a similar view. taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 through the compressing means for delivering two complete charges of fuel to the engine for every revolution of the power shaft.

Our improved engine has been primarily designed for use with gasolene as the fuel medium, but it will be understood that steam,- compressed air and other like means may be employed.

he inventlon comprises among other things, an engine having a double-headed or winged rotor each face or side wall of which is peculiarly shaped for cooperation with a movable member designed to impart a pressure stroke and at the same time admit the explodedand expanding gases against the rotor; a piston for delivering two complete fuel charges for each revolution of the engine or power shaft, means for varying the the endwalls 5, and has revolubly secured thereto the rotor 1 by means of the key 10. The power shaft has associated therewith the fuel charge compressing andfiring --means hereinafter to be described, and may also be provided with a fiy wheel, pulley, or other mechanism, (not shown) for purposes of utilizing the power of the engine,

as will be understood.

, The' rotor lis of novel construction being1 provided wi two oppositely arrange 'winged heads or blades 11 both of which are similar in constructiomand for purposes herein will be referred to with but one series of "reference characters. Each blade or winged head 11 of the rotor is for-med with a cam-like face 12 eccentrically disposed with relation to the power s aft 7, and an inclined wall or face he said cam face is journaled in bearings 8 and 9, respectively, provided m' 12 beginning at the base of the inclined wall 13 and terminating at the periphery of the rotor as shown. The relative length of the concentric faces 14 of the rotor blades 11, being proportional to the size and path of travel of the said blades, between the inlet and exhaust openings of'the engine, as will be understood. The inclined wall 13 of each blade is arranged tangential with relation to the engine or power shaft 7, and is designed to cotiperate with a movable wall or member 15 pivotall mounted at 16 in the cylinder casing 2 o the engine, to be presently described.

Positioned in the peripheral edges of the rotor blades 11 are packing members 17 expansively pressed against the wall of the cylinder portion 4 by means of springs 18, thereby preventing the escape or leaking of the gases past the rotor blade as do the usual piston rings now employed in the reciprocating type of engine. Additional packing is also provided in the form of bars 19 designed to be pressed outwardly against the heads or end walls 5 of the engine casing by means of springs 20 arranged in openings extending through the rotor andinterposed between the opposite packing bars 19, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. Circumferentially disposed packing in the form of annular ring members 21 are also provided on each side of said rotor and further serve to confine the gases within their working area. Springs 22 extend through spaced openings in the rotor and are interposed between the opposite ring members 21 as shown.

shown, or any other preferred form best suited. for the manufacture and operation of the engine, as will be understood. Any preferred type of lubricating device-may be used, and the oil may be introduced through the pipe 23, seeFig. 1, and distributed by centrifugal force. A lubricating device is shown at 25 in the form of a saturated substance against which the peripheral edges 14 of the blades 11 wipe. A pipe 26 may constitute the means by which lubricant is supplied to the aforesaid lubricating substance.

The movable gate-like member 15 which coiiperates with the inclined faces 13 of the blades 11, is designed to form the lower wall of a firing chamber 27 shown herein as formed integral. with the cylinder portion 4 or the e..gine casing, see Fig. 2. The pivotal connection 16 of the movable member '15 is preferably machined with a cylindrical head 28 adapted to fit within a correspondingly forined socket or'recess 29, the purpose being to provide a peculiarly free and easily operated pivotal connection in which there is no lost motion and through which there can be no leakage of the fuel The rotor may be of spoke construction as charge as will-be understood.

charge. The location of the pivotal connection is also important in that the gravitating action of the movable gate 15, m a downward direction is conducive to an increased and positive transmission of the leverage action against the rotor blades.

The movable member 15 is formed with an arcuate lower face 30 which serves to complete the circumferential bore of the cylinder when the said member 15 is closed, and forms the lower wall of the firing chamber, as will be understood. The upper face is also curved as shown, and receives the force of the explosion, as will be hereinafter described. The outer edge of the movable wall 15 is provided with a relatively short inclined face 31 the angle of which is designed to correspond with the angles of the inclined faces 13 of the blades 11, the purpose thereof being to insure a positive leverage contact and to prevent the leakage of the fuel charge in a reverse direction to that of the direction of the explosion and expansion of the gases.

Packing to prevent the escape of the gases may also be provided upon the side edges of the movable wall 15, and as shown, comprises yielding bars 32 between which are interposed springs 33 positioned in openings extending through the movable gate. From the foregoing construction of the movable gate 15 itwill be seen that a compact and direct means is provided for im parting a downward and positive pressure to the rotor blade, and it will also be obvious that the wall can be readil returned with a minimum expenditure 0 "power for the next explosion as will be understood.

The means for producing the necessary compression of the fuel charge will now be described.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 3 the compressing mechanism includes a piston 34 vertically arranged in a cylinder 35 suitably supported in a frame construction 36 bolted to a jacket or casing 37, to be hereinafter defrom being withdrawn except at the peripheral edge of the disk. The block members 43 are relatively adjustable by means of the bolt 44 and a series of openings 45. In effecting this adjustment the stroke of the. piston 34' may be regulated for im arting 'heavieror lighter compression to t e fuel They may be in t e nature of dovetail slots to prevent the blocks a in the grooves 42 and the interconnected rod 38 attached to the piston 34. I

The fuel charge is drawn into the cylinder .35 through the valve 47 normally seated by means of the sprin 48. The fuel may be a suitable mixture of gasolenc and air and is conveyed from the usual carbureter through the pipe 49. Another valve 50 communi cates with the cylinder 35 and is designed to permit the compressed fuel charge to enter a pipe 51 and be forced therethrough into the firing chamber 27. This valve is seated by means of a spring 52, it being unseated to a low the passage of the compressed charge to the firing chamber, and normally seated by the action of the spring to prevent the return of the compressed fuel charge. pipe 51 is in communication with the firing charge 27, a valve 52, however, being preferably provided atthe point of introduction of the fuel charge into the said firing chamber, see Fig. 2. This valve 52- is springcontrolled as at 53 and allows the compressed charge to unseat the same and enter the firing chamber and there be exploded the usual spark plug 54, as shown.

By the foregoing construction two fuel charges are effectively compressed and successively delivered to the firing, chamber for every revolution of the engine shaft.

The means for firing the fuel charge may be of any well known cqnstruction, but for.

purposes herein we show a two-point contact ring 55 mounted for rotation with the shaft 7 within an annular ring member 56 upon which is positioned .a contact 57 The contact 57- is designed to be successively engaged by the contacts 58 and 59 respectively, formed on the contact ring 55, thereby completing the electrical circuit (not shown) for firing the fuel charges. The annular ring ma be controlled by means of a. rod 60 exten ing outside of the frame construction, andwhen adjusted'serves to regulate the timin of the explosion as will be understood. ith this construction the explosion may be timed with relation to the cycle of the piston 34 and the compressed fuel char e delivered thereby.

The ex aust port of the en he is indicated at 61, and is designed to ischarge the exhaust gases radially of the engine casing, as shown in Fig. 2. A cold .air port 62 1s shown in close proximity to and beyond the exhaust port and is arranged to permit the entrance of fresh cool air between the blades of the rotor for purposes of cooling and further clearing the chambers of the "engine The of the burnt gases. The cold air drawn into the chamber behind the blades of the rotor may be expelled through the opening 63 into a jacket or casing 64 which incloses the cylinder portion of the engine. The jacket serves to partially confine the cool air about the engine, and also produce a circulation thereabout by the discharge of the cool air through an opening 65 in the top of the jacket The jacket is preferably formed of plates conveniently bolted together as shown, and may be readily assembled or disassembled as occasion may require. lVhile we have shown the form of cooling the engine it will be understood that various other means may be employed such being for example the well known water-cooling system frequently employed in internal combustion engines.

In operation, the fuel charge is drawn into the cylinder 35 by the downstroke of the piston 34- and is compressed on the upstroke of the fuel charge takes place. The timing,

however, may be regulated to cause the explosion at other times by adjusting the contacts heretofore described. The explosion of the fuel. charge in the firing chamber 27 causes the movable wall 15 thereof to move downwardly on its pivotal mounting 16, with the inclined edge 31 in contact with the inclined face 13 of the blade 11, as shown in Fig. 2. The power imparted is similar to that of a lever, and as the wall 15 continues to move downwardly the exploded and expandin gases act directly upon the inclined ace 13 to revolve the rotor.

The preceding charge having been exploded the cam-like face 12 of therotor is acting to exhaust the burnt gases through the exhaust port 61. As the blade 11 passes the exhaust port 61 a quantity of fresh, cool air enters the port 62 behind the rotor blade, as has been described. The continued movement of the rotor blades causes the cam-like face 12 to further 'exhaust any remaining burnt gases together with the cool air through the opening 63 into the jacket 64 for circulation about the engine and subsequent discharge through the opening 65 into the atmosphere. It will be seen that as the cam face 12 further continues the cam surface thereof will gradually lift the movable wall '15 and return the same for the next firing operation. Itwill further be seen that for each revolution of the engine shaft two explosions are obtained and a continuous and direct power imparted to the rotating element through the action of the movable wall 15.

Various changes in the size, proportion, arrangement and combination of the several parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of our invention, and we do not limit ourselves to the exact construction set forth herein.

We claim:

1. A rotary internal combustion engine including in combination an engine casing, a rotor mounted therein, a shaft for said rotor, a multi-stroke pump interconnected with the said shaft for delivering a multiplicity of compressed fuel char es against the rotor for every revolution of the aforesaid shaft, means for varying the length of the stroke of the pump, and means for varying the time of firing the fuel charges with relation to the operating position of the aforesaid pump.

2. A rotary internal combustion engine including in combination an engine caslng, a rotor .mounted therein and having a series of blades operatively associated with said casing, a firing chamber, means interposed between the aforesaid casing and firing chamber for imparting movement to the aforesaid blades, a shaft for said rotor, a multi-stroke pump interconnected with the said shaft for delivering a multiplicity of compressed fuel charges to the firing chamber for every revolution of the aforesaid shaft, and meansfor varying the time of firing the fuel charges with relation to the operating position of the aforesaid pump.

3. A rotary internal combustion engine including in combination an engine casing,

a rotor mounted therein and having a series of blades operatively associated with said stroke of the pump and means for varying the time of firing the fuel charges with relation to theoperating position of the aforesaid pump.

4.-. A rotary internal combustion engine including in combination an engine casing, airotor mounted therein and having oppositely disposed blades operatively associated with said casing, a firlng chamber, means comprising a movable wall interposed between the aforesaid casing and firing chamber and adapted to, successively bear against the aforesaid blades of the rotor for imparting movement thereto, a shaft for said rotor, a multi-stroke pump for delivering a multiplicity of compressed fuel charges into the firing chamber and against the aforesaid movable wall for every revolution of the aforesaid rotor, and means for varying the time of firing the fuel charges with relation to the operating position of the aforesaid pump.

In'testimony whereof we afiix our signatures. 1

OGDEN A. WILLIAMS. GEORGE A. SHARPE. Witnesses:

L; F. INGRAM, A. B. Wnm. 

